Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Political Science Table of Contents
See all modules and sections for Introduction to Political Science.
1.0 Political Science Module 1: What is Political Science?
Module 1 introduces political science as the study of power, especially how power is organized, distributed,...
1.1 What is Political Science?
Political science is the systematic study of how power is organized, distributed, and used to make decisions...
1.2 What is Political Power?
Political power is the ability to influence decisions, shape outcomes, or control the behavior of others...
1.3 Normative vs Empirical Theory
Normative theory evaluates values. Empirical theory analyzes reality.
1.4 Traditionalism
Traditionalism seeks to understand politics through ideas, history, and philosophy, with an emphasis...
1.5 Behavioralism
Behavioralism is an approach to political science that focuses on observable behavior, data, and scientific...
1.6 Postbehavioralism
Postbehavioralism combines empirical research with normative concerns, aiming to make political science...
1.7 What is Political Ideology?
Political ideology is a set of beliefs, values, and ideas about how society should be organized and how...
1.8 What is Political Culture?
Political culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and expectations that people in a...
1.9 What is Political Socialization?
Political socialization is the process by which individuals learn and develop their political beliefs,...
2.0 Political Science Module 2: Origins of Political Thought
Module 2 traces the origins of political thought by following major thinkers who asked foundational questions...
2.1 Socrates and the Search for Truth
One of the most important early figures in political philosophy was Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE), a Greek...
2.2 Plato: Can Politics Create Justice?
Plato was deeply shaped by the political instability of Athens and by the execution of Socrates. He saw...
2.3 Aristotle: What Kind of Government Works Best?
Aristotle is often called the first political scientist. He was a student of Plato, but he did not approach...
2.4 St. Augustine: Politics in a Fallen World
Augustine lived during the decline of the Roman Empire, a time of political instability, violence, and...
2.5 Thomas Aquinas: Can Reason and Religion Work Together?
Aquinas is important because he argues that politics should be guided by reason and moral truth, not...
2.6 Machiavelli: Is Power More Important Than Morality?
Machiavelli lived during a time of political instability in Italy, when city-states faced corruption,...
2.7 Thomas Hobbes: Why Do We Fear Each Other?
Hobbes wrote during a period of major political turmoil in England, including the English Civil War....
2.8 John Locke: What Rights Should Government Protect?
John Locke is best known for his Two Treatises of Government. In that work, he also described a state...